Prefabricated Reinforced Masonry Wall System with Interlocking Plates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional reinforced masonry wall construction on-site is time-consuming, costly, and prone to quality issues due to weather conditions, labor expertise, and safety concerns, leading to increased building times and potential structural performance problems.

Innovation Solution

A prefabricated wall system made of reinforced masonry, where prefabricated walls with connecting plates and recesses are manufactured off-site and assembled on-site, allowing for faster construction, improved safety, and enhanced quality by reducing dependency on weather conditions and labor expertise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional on-site bricklaying is used to construct reinforced masonry walls, then the wall can be built with traditional materials and methods, but the construction time is significantly prolonged and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction speedVSAvoidbuilding time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The wall is divided into modular prefabricated blocks that are manufactured separately and then assembled on-site. Each block contains pre-installed through-holes for armature elements, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site bricklaying and mortar application. This segmentation allows parallel production of multiple blocks while preparing the foundation, significantly reducing overall construction time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

All preparatory work including block manufacturing, armature element installation, and hole alignment is completed before the blocks are transported to the construction site. The blocks arrive ready-to-assemble with all reinforcements pre-positioned, eliminating on-site drying times and curing periods required for traditional mortar joints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If traditional on-site bricklaying is used, then materials can be applied continuously, but the precision and quality of wall realization are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewall construction precisionVSAvoidstructural quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wall construction is segmented into standardized blocks manufactured under controlled factory conditions. Each block's dimensions, through-hole positions, and armature element placements are precisely controlled during manufacturing, ensuring high dimensional accuracy and consistent quality that cannot be achieved through manual on-site bricklaying.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The construction process transitions from variable on-site conditions to controlled factory parameters. Blocks are manufactured with precise tolerances for block dimensions, through-hole locations, and armature positioning. This parameter control ensures that every block meets specified quality standards before leaving the factory, guaranteeing consistent structural quality regardless of on-site weather or worker expertise variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If traditional on-site construction methods are used, then the wall can be built incrementally, but worker safety is compromised due to precarious working conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworker safetyVSAvoidconstruction system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wall is segmented into complete, self-contained blocks that are fully assembled and reinforced in the factory before transport. Workers at the construction site only need to perform simple lifting and placement operations rather than working at heights with traditional bricklaying tools and materials, significantly improving safety conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The prefabricated blocks act as intermediaries that transfer the complexity of block manufacturing, armature installation, and quality control to the factory setting. This allows complex operations to be performed under controlled conditions with proper safety equipment, while on-site workers only handle simplified assembly tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3516132B1A prefabricated wall system made of reinforced masonry, a method for realising the prefabricated wall system
Publication Date: 2021.04.21 GRANDI MAURO
  • EP3516132B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3516132B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3516132B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

A prefabricated wall (1) system (500) made of reinforced masonry, comprising: a first prefabricated wall (1a), comprising a plurality of connecting plates (8), and a second prefabricated wall (1b) comprising a plurality of recesses (9). The first prefabricated wall (1a) and the second prefabricated wall (1b) further comprise rows (3) of blocks (2) and a plurality of horizontal armatures (7). Each connecting plate (8) comprises a first through-opening (80) and is fixed between two adjacent rows (3) so that the first opening (80) projects and the first openings (80) can be crossed by a vertical armature element. Each recess (9) is fashioned in a row (3) of blocks (2) so as to form a first housing (90). The connecting plates (8) of the first prefabricated wall (1a) and the recesses (9) of the second prefabricated wall (1 b) are reciprocally conformed so that the first openings (80) of the connecting plates (8) are insertable in the first housing (90).